Hydraulic log barking apparatus



Dec. 25, 1951 w. H. RAMBO ET AL 2,579,613

HYDRAULIC LOG BARKING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A m 67 70 r 7 Y 1:: -=13 68 as INVENTOR. W/l/mm H Rambo Fig.

Hare/o DER/CE ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 w. H. RAMBO ET AL 2, 7

HYDRAULIC LOG BARKING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1947 4 Sheet's-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. William H. Rambo BY Ham /d A. 0? RIM M A TTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 w. H. RAMBO ETAL HYDRAULIC LOG BARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 28, 1947 IN VEN T OR. William H. Rambo BY Ham/a A. DeR/ce ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1951 w. H. RAMBO ETAL HYDRAULIC LOG BARKING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1947 Will/am H Rambo. BY Ham/0' A. D R/ce ATTORNEY as to completely Patented Dec. 25, 1951 OFFICE 2,579,613 HYDRAULIC LOG BARKIN G APPARATUS William H. Rambo and Harold A. De Rice, Portland, Oreg Application July 28, 1947, Serial No. 764,060

6 Claims.

Our present invention comprises means for barking a log hydraulically or cleaning the surfaces of logs or the like, or hydraulically cleaning, scrubbing or otherwise utilizing a jet or spray of water or other fluid to perform a useful operation upon the surface of a long object such as a log.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for hydraulically debarking logs, for cleaning logs or the like, or for spraying similar articles, in a machine having means for automatically, completely operating upon the entire surface of the log or similar article. This object of the present invention is achieved by providing novel, easily built and operated means for directing a jet or spray against the surface of a log or the like, while producing such relative movement of the log or the like, and jet or spray traverse the entire surface of the log or the like.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide means whereby relative movement of a log and a jet producing debarking nozzle is achieved hydraulically, thus making it possible to utilize the means for creating a highpressure jet as the means for producing relative movement of the log and nozzle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide hydraulic debarking means of sturdy character, assembled from relatively simple and sturdy parts of light weight. the combination having a high degree of resistance to damage by the destructive force of a high-pressure jet and being relatively unsusceptible to damage by pieces of bark, wood, stones or other debris occasionally projected with great force by hydraulic debarking nozzles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide hydraulic debarking apparatus which may be controlled from a safe distance so as to eliminate injury to workmen engaged in cleaning or debarking logs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide debarking, cleaning or spraying apparatus which is quickly and easily adjustable to accommodate various lengths and diameters of objects being operated upon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic debarking, cleaning or spraying mechanism wherein a nozzle reciprocates the length of a log or similar object to be debarked, cleaned or sprayed, characterized by novel means for controlling the reciprocations of the nozzle automatically or manually as desired.

Theioregoing and other objects and advanend of its normal travel;

tages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from inspection of the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following specification wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. In the drawings Fig. l is a plan view, partially schematic in character. of the essential portions of a preferred embodiment of our invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. l, the view being on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a portion of the present in vention taken substantially along line 3--3 of Fig. 1 with the nozzle reciprocated to the other end of its normal path of movement from the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and approaching the Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 3 with parts broken away; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a modified form of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a ramp I I] is provided upon which a log may be placed by any suitable means, the ramp sloping downward so that the log will roll towards its lower edge until stopped by a plurality of dogs ll mounted upon a shaft l2 adjacent the lower edge of the ramp. The dogs II are fastened to the shaft l2 so that all may be rocked from the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in dotted lines by means of a hydraulic cylinder I3 having a piston rod I4 pivotally connected to one of the dogs. Extensions I5 on the dogs project above the runways of the ramp l0 when the dogs release a log and permit it to roll forward, the projections thus acting as means to prevent the advance of a succeeding log. When the dogs II are released and rocked forwardly they provide means to bridge a gap between the ramp l0 and log retaining and rotating means including a lower ramp 20. As seen in Fig. 2, a log 2| has been advanced onto the upper edge of the lower ramp 20 and is seated in a plurality of cradles formed by lengths of sprocket chains 22 passing over sprockets 23 mounted upon arms 24, and a plurality of sprockets 26 fixed to shafts 21 at the upper corner of the ramp 26. Also fixed to the shafts 21 are a plurality of rollers 28 of larger diameter than the sprockets 25. The arms 24 are downwardly curved so that they will not contact the logs as the latter force the chains to sag between the sprockets 23 and 26. In this condition the rollers 28 project above the lower stretches of the sprocket chains and provide means to preventthe log from rolling back toward the gap between the ramps. The arms 24 are attached to piston rods of a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 3| so that the position of the arms may be adjusted from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 to a lower position such that the sprockets 23 are retracted beneath the ramp 25, or other raised positions so that logs of various diameters may be retained in contact with the rollers 28.

The sprocket chains 22 pass about the sprockets 23 and 26, then about sprockets mounted upon posts 36, then about floating sprockets 31 vertically movable in guides 38, then about sprockets 39 mounted beneath the ramp 25, and back to the sprockets 25. The sprockets 31 are supported on the ends of levers 40 pivotally mounted at 4! upon uprights 42, the forward ends of the levers being slotted to permit vertical movement of the sprockets 31 so that as the sprockets 23 are raised or lowered the sprockets 31 will automatically take up any slack in the sprocket chains. Proper tension is always maintained by piston rods 43 extending to levers 45 from cylinders 44.

The sprockets 35 are mounted upon separate shafts, each of which has 'afiixed thereto a sprocket 45 (see Fig. 1) from which extends a sprocket chain 45 to sprockets 4i (see Fig. 2) on a power shaft or shafts 48 connected to suitable sources of power (not herein illustrated). Rotation of the shaft 48 thus produces rotation of the sprockets driven by chain 22 and the rollers 28 so that the log 2! may be intermittently or continuously rotated about its longitudinal axis while resting in the cradles provided by the chains 22. I It is preferred that sprockets 35 and sprockets 41, as well as the sprockets 26 and rollers 28, are mounted upon individual shafts so that each chain 22 can operate independently of the others to permit operation of the chains at varying velocities to accommodate tapered logs or other objects of nonuniform diameter. The purpose of this is so that shorter lengths of logs may be handled by operating less than all of the chains and longer lengths by operating all of the chains. If desired all of the chains could be interconnected so as to eliminate separate controls for each chain.

A hydraulic nozzle 50 is mounted in the gap between the upper ramp H.) and the lower ramp 25 and is adapted to be reciprocated lengthwise of the log, either while the log is stationary between intermittent movements, or while the log is slowly rotating. In the first case longitudinal elements of the log will be stripped of bark and cleaned, and in the second case, spiral elements of the log will be stripped of bark and cleaned. In either event, the nozzle is adapted to be automatically reciprocated from end to end of a path designed to cover the longest log for which the machine is designed, or manually controlled to reciprocate through shorter paths to accommodate shorter logs. Also, the angle of impact of the jet with the log may be adjusted as desired while the jet is in operation so as to change the angle of impact for most efficient operation, or to accommodate the mechanism to logs of various diameters.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that the nozzle comprises a vertical stem 5| which is attached to the vertical leg of a T-fitting passing through a longitudinal slot 52 in the top of a shield 53 which is supported between adjustable end plates 54. The end plates 54 are mounted upon fixed plates 55 supported by any suitable means (not herein shown). The lower edges of the end plates 54 are provided with arcuate racks 56 meshing with a pair of pinions 51 mounted upon a shaft 58 extending between the fixed plates 55, one end of which is provided with a crank 59 or suitable means, by means of which the shaft 58 may be rotated to adjust the position of the end plates 54 with respect to the plates 55. The plates 54 are pivotally mounted upon studs 65 placed about concentric openings through plates 54 and 55 and which are threaded for the reception of nuts 6| which may .be tightened if desired to fix the two plates in adjusted position. In order to permit relative rotation of the plates the studs 60 pass from plates 55 through arcuate slots 62 in the movable plates 54.

A hollow, open-ended, piston rod 65 extends through superimposed concentric openings in each set of end plates 54 and 55, the outer end of each piston rod 65 passing through apacking gland 65 at the end of a long cylinder 61 with which communicates the end of a supply pipe 68. The end of the hollow piston rod 65 within the cylinder 57 is provided with a piston head H1 of larger diameter than the outer diameter of the hollow rod 65 and of such diameter as to hydraulically seal a hollow space H between the outer wall of the hollow rod 65 and the inner wall of the cylinder 61. hollow piston rod 65 communicates with the T- fitting 12 leading to the nozzle 50.

The construction set forth in Fig. 3 is duplicated at the opposite end of the shield 53 as seen in Fig. 1 so that water under pressure enters the T-ntting '32 from both ends, the pipes 68 being connected to a pump 15 for creating v high pressure, such as 1500 pounds per square inch. The constructions at each end of the fitting 72 are carefully matched and balanced-so that the pressures existing within the pipes 68 cancel each other and the fitting 12 will not be moved in either direction as a result of pressure from pump 15.

The spaces H communicate through passages 13 with pipes leading from a pump 8|. If the pump 8! is permitted to force water under its pressure into the space 'H at the right of the mechanism the enlarged head 10 on the hollow rod 65 will act as a piston to pull the nozzle 50 toward the right end of the shield 53 (see Fig; l); and if the output or pump 8| is introduced into the left end of the construction the nozzle will be pulled toward the left end of shield 53 (see Fig. 3).

In order to provide means for controlling the direction of movement of the nozzle we provide control means including a valve rod 82. The valve rod 82 carries thereon a first valve disk 83, a second valve disk 84 and a piston head 85 at each end. The disk 83 is so mounted as to be movable to one side or the other of the pas-' sage 55, thus permitting the space H to be placed in communication with the inlet pipe 89 from pump 8|, or an exhaust pipe 86. This movement may be accomplished by causing the piston head 85 to be acted upon by fluid entering its cylinder through either pipe 90 or pipe 9| from a suitable source 92 as controlled by a four-way valve 93. When the valve is in one position the space at one side of piston head 85 may be exhausted through an exhaust opening 94 and pressure 'ap plied to the opposite side, or vice versa.' 'As seen in Fig. 3 pressure has been applied through pipe'lli! remove piston head 85 toward theright The inner end of the 5 to position the disk 83 at the right of passage I3 so that pressure from pump 8| is moving the nozzle 50 toward the left. At any time in the travel of the nozzle the valve 93 may be rotated to exhaust the space to the left of piston head 85 and apply pressure against its other side to move piston rod 82 toward the left so as to place the disk 03 to the left of passage 13. Pressure from pump 8| is thereby shifted to the piston I at the opposite end and thereupon moves the nozzle toward the right while the space II shown in Fig. 3 is exhausted through pipe 86. The second disk 84 is provided in order to have balancin pressure to negative the pressure against disk 83.

In order to provide automatic means for controlling the nozzle 50 we provide an over-center spring trip at each end of a valve control rod, one of which is fully illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In these figures it is seen that the T-fitting 12 is mounted upon a carriage I00 provided with. a pair of flanged wheels I0I riding upon tracks I02 fixed to the upper surfaces of I-beams I03 extending between the adjustable end plates 54.

The'central portion of the carriage I00 supports a sleeve I05 which embraces a valve control rod I06. This rod is siidably mounted in bosses I07 extending inward from the end plates 54. Each plate 54 has a support I08 welded thereto upon which are mounted an upper bolt I09 and a spaced pair of lower bolts IIO. These bolts support a forward plate III held in spaced relation thereto by suitable spacers surroundin the bolts as seen in Fig. 4. A pair of depending arms H3 are pivoted individually and coaxially upon and between the support I 08 and the plate III by pivots H2, the lower ends of the arms being joined by a pin I I4 and an extension II5 embracing valve rod 82. The upper ends of the arms are spaced from each other to provide clearance for a spring H 6 stretched between the pin H4 and a movable member IIB, the point of attachment of the upper end of the spring H6 being above the pivotal attachment of the arms H3 to their supporting members I09 and I I I. The movable member III! is provided with a longitudinal slot I 20 through which the bolt I09 passes, and is also provided with a pair of forwardly extending arms I2I which pass beyond the edges of plate I II at a distance therefrom and are adjustably i'astenedto the valve control rod I06. The extension H5 is provided with an arcuate slot I22 through which the valve rod 82 passes, the arcuate slot being provided to permit rotation of the end plates are attached. It will be seen in Figs. 4 and 5 that the movable end plate 54 is provided with an adequate slot I23 for the same purpose, while the flxed end plate 55 is provided with a clearance opening I24 for the valve rod 82. A pair of collars I25 and I26 are adjustably fastened to the valve rod 82, one at each side of the extension I I5.

When the carriage I 00 moves to the left a short distance from the position illustrated in Fig. 5 the sleeve I05 strikes the forward arm I2I, thus moving the movable member IIB, as permitted by the slot I20 and the end of the rod I06 sliding through the boss I01. This moves the upper end of the spring II 6 over center with respect to the pivotal attachment of the arms H3 to thereby cause the spring I I6 to snap the arms I I3 and the valve rod 82 toward the left. In so doing the land 83 is moved to the left of the passage 13 while the second land 84 is moved further toward the left in its cylinder. The movement is 54 to which the supports I08 6 adjustably determined to position the land I! between the passage 13 and the inlet pipe 00, thus stopping the flow of space II and opening the exhaust passage 80; Since this movement of the valve 82 has also caused a reversed relationship of the corresponding parts at the opposite end of the construction, the piston head 10 at the right of the construction will draw the carriage I00 toward the right. The over-center device illustrated in Fig. 5 is also duplicated at the right end of the construction and the corresponding members attached tothe opposite ends of the rods I06 and 82 have been similarly moved towards the left to prepare the right end over-center device for reversing action.

against the second land 84 so that the valve rod-v 82will always be ready to move in either direction regardless of which end of the carriage is being subjected to pressure from the pump 15.

As seen in Fig. 1 the pipes 68 may be connected to the pipes 80 through the medium of a. branch pipe I30 controlled by a throttling valve Ill so that the one pump I5 may operate to supply pressure to both the nozzle and the nozzle carriage movin means if desired. I In Fig. 2 it is seen that the space beneath the log and nozzle may have sloping floors, as inclicated at I40 and I45, converging toward an end less belt I42 passed about pulleys such as the pulley I43 and caused to move by suitable means (not shown) in order that bark and other waste may be carried away from the construction.

In Fig. 6 we have schematically represented a modified form of our invention in which the nozzle I50 is the terminus 01 a reversely bent nitture I5I projecting through a slot I52 in the side of a shield I53 remote from the log in order to minimize the chances of chips of barking fouling the mechanism. I We have herein illustrated embodiments of our invention wherein certain details are schematically illustrated and other details are illustrative of one embodiment which certain portions may assume. It is to be appreciated that various modiflcations in arrangement and detail may be scope of the appended claims are considered to be part 01' our invention.

We claim:

1. A machine for performing operations upon a long object, such as debarking a log, comprising a nozzle, a carriage supportin said nozzle, a pair of hollow, open-ended piston rods communicating at one end with said nozzle and extending from said carriage in opposite directions, an annular piston fixed to and coaxially surrounding each of said hollow piston rods, a cylinder surrounding each hollow piston rod in spaced relation and confining each of said pistons, fluid pressure creating means, a fluid directing system connecting said fluid pressure creating means with the interiors of both of said cylinders beyond said pistons and also with the spaces between said hollow piston rods and said cylinders, said system supplying pressure fluid to the interiors of both of said hollow piston rods to be ejected therefrom through said nozzle, .and valve means included in said system,said-valve means being movable to alter nate positions effective alternately to connect one of said spaces to said fluid pressure creating means while relieving the other to atmosphere in order to effect-reciprocation of said carriage. 2.: The structure set forth in claim 1; in combination with automatic valve tripping means connected to said valve means and engageable by said carriage at the end of each reciprocatory movement thereof for effecting the alternate positioning of said valve means. V "3. In a machine for directing a high pressure jetagainst an object, such as a machine for debarking a'log, a carriage, guides for guiding said carriage, a nozzle supported by said carriage, a pair of equal conduits leading to said nozzle from opposite sides thereof, a single means for supplying fluid under high pressure simultaneously through both .of said conduits, a pair of hydraulic piston means each extending parallel withsaid guides from a side of said carriage, one in opposition to the other, and' means to supply fluid under pressure alternately to each of said piston means while relieving the other whereby to recipr'ocate said carriage along said guides. 4'.'In a machine for directing a highpressure jet against an object, such as a machine for debarking a log, a carriage, guides for guiding said carriage, a nozzle supported by said carriage, a pair of equal conduits leadin to said nozzle from opposite sides thereof, a single means for supplying fluid under high pressure simultaneously through both of said conduits, a first hydraulic piston means extendingvparallel with said guides from a side of said carriage, a second hydraulic piston means extending parallel with said guides. from the opposite side of said carriage, means to supply fluid under pressure alternately to each of said piston means while relieving the other whereby to reciprocate said carriage along said guides including a valve associated with each of said pistons, and valve actuating means connecte ingsaid valves and engageable by said carriage at each end of its travel.

5. In a machine for directing a high pressure jet against an object, such as a machine for debarking a log, a carriage, guides for guidingsaid carriage, a nozzle supported by saidcarriage, a

pair of equal conduits leading to said nozzle from opposite sides thereof, a single means for supplying fluid under high pressure simultaneously through both of said conduits, a first hydraulic piston means extending parallel with said guides from a side of said carriage, a second hydraulic piston means extending parallel with said guides from the opposite side of said carriage, means to supply fluid under pressure alternately to each of said piston-means while relieving the other whereby to reciprocate said carriage along said guides including a valve associated with each of said pistons, and valve actuating means engageable by said carriage at each end of its travel, said valve actuating means including a, valve rod operatively connected to both of said valves.

6. In a machine for directing a high pressure jet against an object, such as a machine for debarking a log, a carriage, guides for guiding said carriage, a nozzle supported by said carriage, a pair of equal conduits leading to said nozzle from opposite sides thereof, a single means for supplying fluid under high pressure simultaneously through-both of said conduits, a first hydraulic piston means extending parallel with said guides from a side of said carriage, a second hydraulic piston means extending parallel with said guides from the opposite side of said carriage, means to supply fluid under pressure alternately to each of said piston means while relievin the other whereby to reciprocate said carriage along said guides including a valve associated witheach of "said pistons, and valve actuating means engageable by said carriage at each end of its travel, said valve actuating means including a valve rod operatively connected to both of said valves and a pair of over-center spring, snap-acting levers connected to said rod, one of said levers bein located at each end of said guides.

- WILLIAM H. RAMBO. HAROLD A. DE RICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 995,900 Plecher et al. June 20, 1911 1,348,800 Hipkins et al. Aug. 3, 1920 1,969,914 Swigert Aug. '14, 1934 2,393,978 Edwards et al. Feb. 5, 1946 2,395,845 Bukowsky Mar. 5, 1946 Edwards et a1 Mar. 12, 1946 

